Marker lamp

ABSTRACT

A marker lamp for mounting on truck bodies and the like consists of an elongated base having inclined surfaces at both ends, and a plastic lens mounted on the base between the inclined surfaces. The lens are protected from damage by tree branches since the inclined surfaces tend to deflect the branches away from the lens. Assembly of the lamp is facilitated by provisions for the snap fit of the lens and of a lamp socket onto the base.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert R. Rossi Audubon, NJ.

[21 App]. No. 862,689

[22] Filed Oct. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [73] Assignee Arrow Safety Device Company Mount Holly, NJ.

[54] MARKER LAMP 5 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 240/81 nso 1 32 Field of Search 240/82,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,659 6/1937 Sauer 240/82 2,184,208 12/1939 Brown et a] 240/82 3,1 l4,182 12/1963 Trautner et al. 240/8.2

Primary Examiner-S. Clement Swisher Assistant Examiner-William A. Henry, II Attorney-Busser, Smith & Harding ABSTRACT: A marker lamp for mounting on truck bodies and the like consists of an elongated base having inclined surfaces at both ends, and a plastic lens mounted on the base between the inclined surfaces. The lens are protected from damage by tree branches since the inclined surfaces tend to deflect the branches away from the lens. Assembly of the lamp is facilitated by provisions for the snap fit of the lens and of a lamp socket onto the base.

msmmm 41912 3.333.021

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lNVENTOR ROBERT R. ROSSI ATTORNEYS PATENTED JAN '4 m2 SHEET 2 BF 3 FIG. 4.

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INVENTOR ROBERT R. ROSS! lm, 5w. 87M

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ATTORNEYS PATENIED JAN 41912 SHEET 3 OF 3 Fri u n mm 8% u 1 1|: l v 3 oE m6 mm 2. 8 8 ow 3 6 mm I 2w: I; 3 Mn: gr 9 mm INVENTOR I ROBERT R. ROSS! ATTORNEYS MARKER LAMP CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application discloses subject matter claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 862,651, filed Oct. l, 1969, and in my copending design application Ser No. l9,369, filed Oct. 1, I969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to marker lamps, and particularly to lamps of the kind used to mark the outline of the body of a truck at night.

The fragile plastic or glass covers of ordinary marker lamps are susceptible to breakage resulting from various causes. Contact with tree limbs and branches is on of the most common causes of such breakage. While attempts have been made to shield the fragile covers of marker lamps from breakage by tree branches and the like, these attempts have involved the use of shields which extend beyond the outermost extent of the lens in a direction perpendicular to the truck body. Such shields inherently prevent the light produced by the marker lamp from being visible from certain directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, sloping deflectors are provided at either end of a base, and, between the sloping deflectors, there is mounted a translucent plastic cover which extends outwardly from the truck body to a greater extent than the outermost extent of the deflectors.

The cover (or lens) has sloping faces which are preferably arranged to form a continuation of the sloped deflectors of the base so that a tree branch, once deflected by one of the deflectors, is further deflected by the face of the lens until the lens is cleared by the branch. Although the face of the lens may come into contact with a branch, it is not likely to be broken because the sloped deflectors cause the branch to approach the face of the lens in a very nearly tangential direction.

Since the face of the lens extends outwardly from the truck body beyond the protective sloped deflectors and has oblique surfaces, the light produced by the lamp can be viewed from directions approximately tangent to the truck body with only slight obstruction by the deflectors. The lens also has sides which are nearly perpendicular to the truck body. These sides are not obstructed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a marker lamp in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, in elevation, of the marker lamp showing the lens separated from the base;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a truck body showing an arrangement of marker lamps;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the base of the marker lamp; FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the base of the marker lamp; FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on the plane 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the base; FIG. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the plane 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the plane 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation of a part of the marker lamp, showing various bulb-mounting features in greater detail;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary section of the marker lamp taken on the plane indicated 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a section of the marker lamp viewed from the right-hand side of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section of the marker lamp taken on the plane indicated at 99 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is an elevation of an incandescent bulb of the type suitable for use in the marker lamp; and FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGFI, there is illustrated a base 20, preferably a metal casting, having, at both ends, holes for mounting screws countersunk at 24. Mounting hole 26 is visible in FIG. 1.

Lens 22 is preferably made from a translucent plastic. The translucent lens may be either partially or fully transparent. The term translucent" is intended to refer to the capability of transmitting light without necessarily implying the presence of a frost or the like to cause scattering of the light rays.

The lens is formed so that it has a face consisting of slopes 28 and 30, which meet at a peak 32. The face of the lens which consists of slopes 28 and 30 is smooth, and has a gradually changing curvature, the part having the smallest radius of curvature being peak 32.

The lens is molded with tabs 34 and 36 at its ends. These tabs are narrower in width than the curved face of the lens, and their function will become apparent from the description which follows.

On either side of the curved face of the lens there is a substantially flat face, one such flat face being indicated at 37.

The base is provided, at its ends, with ramps having inclined slopes. These members will be referred to as ramps or deflectors. The deflectors are indicated at 38, 40, 42 and 44. These deflectors are formed in the base when it is cast, and the deflectors at an end of the base are spaced from each other not only to provide for a mounting hole such as 26, but also to pennit the tabs of the lens to enter into the space between them.

The slope of the deflectors is preferably the same as that of the lens in the area nearest the adjacent deflectors, and the lens is preferably mounted so that its height is such that it forms what amounts to a continuation of the adjacent deflectors without any abrupt change in height. There will, of course, be a small space between the end of the lens and the edges of the deflectors. The purpose of tabs 34 and 36 is to prevent twigs and the like from being caught in this space.

The manner in which the lens 22 is mounted on the base will be apparent from FIGS. 2, 6, 7, 11 and 12. An oval-shaped support 46 is an integral part of the base 20. It is in the form of a wall having a lip 48 formed in its edge. Lens 22 is molded so that its inner surface 50 (FIG. 12) is in the form of a Fresnel lens. The sidewalls 37 and 39 of the lens as well as end wall 41 (FIG. 11) and its counterpart (not shown) on the other end of the lens, are provided with an inwardly facing oval groove 43. Groove 43 cooperates with lip 48 to secure the lens to the base. The walls of the lens are sufficiently flexible to permit easy removal and attachment of the lens. The closure formed by the lens and support 46 is watertight.

In order to provide for the mounting of a bulb within the en closure formed by the lens and the base, an inclined element 52 (FIGS. 7, 8, 9, I1 and 13) is formed in the base. Surface 52 provides support for a socket assembly, and a tapered opening 54 (FIGS. 7, 5 and 8) is provided in element 52 to secure the socket assembly in place.

Opening 56 in the base is provided for a rivet 58 (FIG. 11), which forms a connection between a metal clip 59'within the housing and a conductive strip 60. Strip 60, as shown in FIG. 10, is located underneath the base, and extends from rivet 58 to mounting hole 26. Strip 60 is provided with a hole 61 which aligns with mounting hole 26. When a screw is inserted through holes 26 and 61 for mounting of the base to the body of a vehicle, strip 60 is electrically connected to the vehicle body.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 5, 8 and 9, the base is also provided with an inwardly extending projection comprising faces 64 and 66. In face 66, there is an opening 68 for the passage of a wire 70 (FIG. 13) into the interior of the enclosure formed by the lens and the base.

The bulb socket consists of a pair of identical molded plastic members 72 and 74. Members 72 and 74 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 l and 13, these figures being sections taken respectively on the planes indicated at 8-8 and 9-9 in FIG; 7. Parts of socket element 72 which correspond to identical parts of socket 74 are given identical reference numerals, but the reference numerals pertaining to element 72 are primed.

Before describing the socket in detail, reference should be made to the drawing of the bulb 76 in FIG. 14, since the socket is designed to accommodate that particular form of bulb.

Bulb 76 has a molded glass base consisting of flattened parts 78 and 80 which are separated by a larger thickness of glass at 81. Each of parts 78 and 80 has extending through it a conductor which terminates in a wire loop. Wire loop 82 is bent around in one direction so that it lies along and in front of part 78, as it is shown in FIG. 14. Wire loop 84 is bent around behind part 80 as it is shown in FIG. 14. Parts 78 and 80 are respectively provided with transversely extending depressions 83 and 85 for cooperation with mounting members in the socket. Similar transverse depressions are provided on the opposite sides of parts 78 and 80, as will be apparent from FIG. 11.

Returning to FIGS. 11 and 13, there is shown, in FIG. 11, a projection 86 which fits into tapered hole 54 in element 52. Projection 86 is also tapered so that it fits opening 54 tightly to form a watertight seal. Flexible tip projection 88 bends backwardly upon insertion of projection 86 into opening 54, and then snaps into the position in which it is shown to prevent the socket assembly from being jarred loose.

Members 72 and 74 of the socket are held together by mating pins and holes (not shown), each of the two members having one such pin and one such hole.

As shown in FIG. 13, socket element 74 has an integrally molded flexible arm 92 terminating in a rounded end member 90. As shown in FIG. 11, a pinlike projection 94 on element 74 extends through an opening in metal clip 59. Metal clip 59 is continuous with member 98, and member 98 is held in place against socket member 74 by projection 96' of socket member 72. Element 98 is terminated in a curved portion 100.

Socket element 72 is similarly provided with an arm 92' having a rounded end portion 90, and with a metal clip 102 having a curved end portion 104. FIGS. 11 and 13 show that, on one side of the socket, a plastic end 90' cooperates with a metal clip end 100 to maintain electrical contact with the metal clip 100 and wire loop 82 of the bulb. The rounded metal clip end 100 and end 90' cooperate with transverse depressions in the bulb base to hold the bulb in place.

Metal clip end 104 and plastic end 90, shown in FIG. 13, cooperate together and with the opposite side of the bulb base.

End 104 of clip 102 is in contact with wire loop 84. The opposite end of clip 102 is formed with a loop 106 engaging the conductive strands 108 of wire 70.

From FIG. 11 it will be seen that the bulb 76 itself is positioned so that at least part of it is located at a greater distance from the vehicle body on which the base is mounted than the part of ramp 38 which extends outwardly the farthest. The view of the illumination provided by this lamp is not blocked by the ramps. Yet, the lens is well protected from damage by tree branches because they are lifted away from the vehicle body by the deflectors 38-44 on the base. When the branches come into contact with the face of the lens 22, there is no sharp impact, since the face of the lens is arranged with respect to the deflectors in such a way that the branch will merely slide from he ramps onto the face of the lens smoothly. While the branch may be deflected outwardly somewhat further by the face of the lens, there is little likelihood that this will result in destruction of the lens since the exposed portion 28 and 30 are disposed at small angles with respect to the vehicle body.

In FIG. 3, a truck body 110 is shown having a marker lamp 112 mounted at the upper rear comer of its left side. Marker lamp 112 is one of the lamps which is most susceptible to damage by tree branches. If lamp I12 is constructed in accordance with the invention, and mounted so that the deflectors at the ends of its base are respectively toward the front and rear of the truck body, branches will be deflected away from the truck body whether the truck is moving forwardly or backwardly.

Marker lamps 114, I18, 120, 122 and 116 are mounted on the rear of the truck. Although these lamps are not as likely to be damaged by branches, they may also be constructed in accordance with the invention. If, in backing up the truck, a branch tends to slide along the rear of the truck, it will be deflected by the deflectors of one or more of lamps 114-122, and will not result in damage to the lenses.

I claim:

1. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a surface which, when said base is mounted on a truck body, is oblique with respect to the part of said truck body on which said base is mounted in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from a direction approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, said oblique surface having an end relatively nearer to said base than other parts of said oblique surface, and deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means being oblique with respect to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and said deflecting means having an upper end in close proximity to the said end of said cover and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its said end.

2. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side fac ing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a pair of surfaces which, when said base is mounted on a truck body, are oblique with respect to each other and with respect to the part of said truck body on which said base is mounted in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from directions approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, each of said oblique surfaces having an end relatively nearer to said base than other parts of said oblique surface, and a pair of deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means being oblique with respect to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and each said deflecting means having an upper end in close proximity to one of said ends of said cover and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its said end.

3. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a surface which, when said base is mounted on a truck body, is oblique with respect to the part of said truck body on which said base is mounted in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from a direction approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, said oblique surface having an end relatively nearer to said base than other parts of said oblique surface, and deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means comprising at least one ramp having a surface disposed in oblique relationship to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and having an upper end in close proximity to the said end of said cover and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its lower end, and said cover having a projection extending from said end of said oblique surface and along the side of said ramp.

4. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a surface with a pair of opposite ends, when said base is mounted on a truck body, said surface having a gradual rise away from said truck body from one of said ends toward a peak and a gradual decline toward said truck body from said peak to the other of said ends in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from a direction approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, and a pair of deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means being oblique with respect to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and each of said deflecting means having an upper end in close proximity to an end of said surface and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its said end.

5. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising an elongated base having, at each of its ends, at least one deflecting ramp presenting an oblique surface having a low end adjacent an end] of said base and a high end nearer the center of said base, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base between said deflecting ramps, a translucent cover, and means for mounting said translucent cover on said base between said deflecting ramps to enclose said means for mounting a source of illumination, said translucent cover having a pair of opposite ends and having a curved surface extending between said ends which is convex when viewed from its exterior, said cover being mounted so that each of its said ends is in close proximity to a high end of one of said ramps and, each said deflecting ramp having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of the adjacent part of the curved surface of said cover, 

1. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a surface which, when said base is mounted on a truck body, is oblique with respect to the part of said truck body on which said base is mounted in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from a direction approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, said oblique surface having an end relatively nearer to said base than other parts of said oblique surface, and deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means being oblique with respect to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and said deflecting means having an upper end in close proximity to the said end of said cover and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its said end.
 2. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a pair of surfaces which, when said base is mounted on a truck body, are oblique with respect to each other and with respect to the part of said truck body on which said base is mounted in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from directions approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, each of said oblique surfaces having an end relatively nearer to said base than other parts of said oblique surface, and a pair of deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means being oblique with respect to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and each said deflecting means having an upper end in close proximity to one of said ends of said cover and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its said end.
 3. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted On a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a surface which, when said base is mounted on a truck body, is oblique with respect to the part of said truck body on which said base is mounted in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from a direction approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, said oblique surface having an end relatively nearer to said base than other parts of said oblique surface, and deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means comprising at least one ramp having a surface disposed in oblique relationship to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and having an upper end in close proximity to the said end of said cover and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its lower end, and said cover having a projection extending from said end of said oblique surface and along the side of said ramp.
 4. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising a base having first and second sides and adapted to be mounted on a truck body with said first side facing said body and said second side facing outwardly away from said body, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base, a translucent cover, means for mounting said translucent cover on said base, said translucent cover, having a surface with a pair of opposite ends, when said base is mounted on a truck body, said surface having a gradual rise away from said truck body from one of said ends toward a peak and a gradual decline toward said truck body from said peak to the other of said ends in order to permit said marker lamp to be viewed from a direction approximately tangent to the surface of said truck body, and a pair of deflecting means mounted on said base, said deflecting means being oblique with respect to the part of the truck body on which said base is mounted and each of said deflecting means having an upper end in close proximity to an end of said surface and having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of said surface of said cover near its said end.
 5. A marker lamp housing for mounting on truck bodies and the like comprising an elongated base having, at each of its ends, at least one deflecting ramp presenting an oblique surface having a low end adjacent an end of said base and a high end nearer the center of said base, means for mounting a source of illumination on said base between said deflecting ramps, a translucent cover, and means for mounting said translucent cover on said base between said deflecting ramps to enclose said means for mounting a source of illumination, said translucent cover having a pair of opposite ends and having a curved surface extending between said ends which is convex when viewed from its exterior, said cover being mounted so that each of its said ends is in close proximity to a high end of one of said ramps and, each said deflecting ramp having a slope at its upper end approximately equal to the slope of the adjacent part of the curved surface of said cover. 